Official: E-Referral Feature Already Available to GPs
The Ministry of Social Affairs pointed out that GPs can already use, although in a limited capacity at present, the e-referral feature implemented in response to a recommendation made in the National Audit Office's audit on the GP system.
"In order to reduce the number of unwarranted referrals to medical specialists, the National Audit Office suggested based on this audit that the Minister of Social Affairs implement the e-referral feature, and later also the e-consultation system, which would enable the GPs to consult with medical specialists without necessarily having to refer the patient on," said the audit report.
On April 27, Member of the Board of the Association of Family Doctors Anneli Talvik discussed the need for the e-referral and e-consultation systems on ETV.
"The development of the referral and scheduling services offered through the National Health Information System (TIS) took place within the framework of the Digital Registration project. The e-referral system is already in use. For example, GPs can send referrals to medical specialists via TIS, while patients can view their referrals and the responses received to them in the patient portal," Pille Kink, Head of the E-Health Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, told uudised.err.ee.
According to Kink, the technical solution for the e-appointment system, or the direct referral system, exists as a pilot project, and following its implementation, GPs can schedule appointments with medical specialists without leaving the office. She said that the Järveotsa Family Health Centre and the North Estonia Medical Centre are currently testing the solution and that the first e-appointment took place in late March.
"This year, we plan to test the system thoroughly and we also hope to expand our user base among GPs and hospitals by the end of the year. In the case of a direct referral, the medical specialist receives the GP's referral, checks its relevance, and determines the temporal priority for responding to it, while also getting acquainted with the patient's medical history and the medical tests listed in the referral. This type of evaluation process constitutes the first so-called e-appointment," explained Pille Kink.
She added that in the future, the goal is to make scheduling an appointment more convenient for patients. "Provided that all the health care providers join the Digital Registration system, open appointments in all medical institutions will be listed in the patient portal and the patient can choose the most suitable time for him or her," she said.
According to Kink, all these changes are necessary first and foremost for the patients, who require timely and appropriate medical care, but also for the GPs, whose work load they would help to balance more sensibly. From the point of view of the health care system, these changes would also make the waiting lists more transparent.
Sigrid Maasen